DI Press Releases

DI Team Member Killed Working on CAL FIRE Program

Last Updated on October 8, 2014 by DynCorp International

A DynCorp International (DI) team member was tragically killed on Tuesday as he bravely piloted an aircraft deployed to suppress and control a wildfire at Yosemite National Park under a contract with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, known as CAL FIRE. Late in the afternoon, the plane lost contact with officials and emergency response personnel responded to the site where contact was last made. Sadly, it was later confirmed that the plane had gone down and the pilot had not survived.

Geoffrey “Craig” Hunt (62), of San Jose, Calif., was a U.S. military veteran with a proud history of service to others. He served as a U.S. Navy P3 pilot from 1975-1984 and served in the Reserves for 20 years. Craig supported DI’s CAL FIRE program for more than 12 years. He made the ultimate sacrifice while heroically flying a Grumman S-2T fire retardant air tanker, as he often did, into a dangerous and dynamic environment to protect lives and property threatened by wildfire.

“Craig, who we called ‘the professor,’ was a valued member of the DI team and he will be greatly missed,” said Jeffrey Cavarra, DynCorp International program director.

Craig earned a Masters degree in Business from the University of Southern California and a Masters in Biochemistry from the University of Santa Cruz, and served as a chemistry teacher in the off season at the University of Santa Cruz. He had a love for flying, golfing, fishing, hiking, bird watching, scuba diving, math/sciences, teaching, and dogs. He is survived by his wife, Sally.

The DI family extends its deepest sympathies to Craig’s family and loved ones in this difficult time.